Soori (actor)

Soori moved from Madurai to Chennai in 1996 with the intention of becoming an actor in the Tamil film industry. After failing to get any roles, he took up work in the city as a cleaner to fund his acting ambitions.[5] He was first introduced to a casting agent by an acquaintance called Sumathi in 1997, who had also assisted Soori with his meals during his early days in Chennai. Soori subsequently made his first on-screen appearance in the village drama Maru Malarchi (1998), where he stood in the background amongst a crowd. Soori then continued to visit sets and convinced a member of Thotta Tharani’s art team to take him on as an apprentice. From 1999 till 2003, Soori worked on multiple roles as a set assistant, photo plate apprentice, and an electrician. He also made occasional uncredited roles in films portraying a junior artiste who would appear in comedy scenes, appearing in films such as Winner (2003).[5]

The actor became instantly popular as 'Parotta' Soori after the release of his film Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu (2009). Soori got this suffix to his name because of the hilarious 'parotta competition' scene in which he stuns the hotelier by eating 50 parottas and getting ready to eat the same number once again.[6] His body language, rib-tickling punches, and counters have become everyone's favorite, and thus makes Soori an unavoidable add-on in rural based movies. Soori is a perfect fit for some actors like Sivakarthikeyan, Vimal, M. Sasikumar and Vishal.[7]

He has emerged into the limelight post his outstanding performance in films like Sundarapandian (2012), Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam (2013), Pandiya Naadu (2013) and Jilla (2014).[8] His comedy movies in Rajini Murugan (2016) Idhu Namma Aalu (2016), Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran (2016) and Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae (2017) worked out hilariously.

He was seen in Sivakarthikeyan's Seema Raja (2018) and Vikram's Saamy Square (2018). However, his performances in these two films were brutally criticised.[9] Soori had back-to-back releases with Namma Veettu Pillai (2019) and Sangathamizhan (2019).[10]

• Soori at IMDb